Chamber and committees

That is fine—thank you for that, Rona.

I am happy to propose that we write to the cabinet secretary to raise those matters. In his letter to the committee, he said that he will write to us again

“in due course to update ... on progress in taking this work forward”,

but there would be no harm in our going back in the interim and raising members’ specific points. Is everyone content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

Okay. At the end of the meeting, I will come back to members who have raised specific points.

Thanks, Collette. I do not think that there is anything wrong with highlighting some of the good work that is going on in communities.

Okay. Thanks, Jamie. Like you, I certainly got the impression that local management and participation in decision making around processions and parades is where the cabinet secretary is coming from. I mentioned to colleagues earlier that the issue is not as significant in the north-east as it is in other parts of Scotland. However, what has been suggested makes sense to me, so thank you for your comments.

Thanks, Jamie. Do you want to come in, Rona?

Finally, Fulton MacGregor has a question about the interchange with justice partners.

We will come back to questions about private prisons.

Some members will ask specific questions about Lady Dorrian’s review later. On the back of Jamie Greene’s question, I will bring in Russell Findlay. Fulton, is there something that you would like to pick up, too?

You are very enthusiastic.

We are discussing correspondence that the committee has received. The first piece of correspondence relates to the update on the women’s estate. As there are no other queries, are we content to write back to the prison service to thank it for its correspondence and to take forward Jamie Greene’s suggestion in doing so? We will monitor developments around the benefits and evaluation of the unit.

Members indicated agreement.

I call Pauline McNeill, to be followed by Russell Findlay.